OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Soldotna, AK 99669

Soldotna: median income $80,980, home value $320,200, $269/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Swannanoa, NC 28778 95%3,406$73,408$303,300$256 Very close on everything we compare
Fruita, CO 81521 93%2,331$88,458$422,900$294 pricier homes ($103K more)
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 92%3,472$90,013$370,500$283 pricier homes ($50K more)
Stuarts Draft, VA 24477 92%3,390$84,260$299,200$200 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Junction, CO 81503 92%2,348$75,053$352,100$274 pricier homes ($32K more) · older homes
Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 92%1,585$70,083$418,900$292 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller
Traverse City, MI 49685 91%2,813$84,590$358,500$261 pricier homes ($38K more)
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472 91%2,430$81,328$342,500$254 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Rogersville, MO 65742 91%2,960$83,795$317,100$178 Very close on everything we compare
Cottonwood, CA 96022 91%1,852$89,338$366,700$261 pricier homes ($47K more)
Ellijay, GA 30536 90%3,393$80,000$338,500$240 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Piney Flats, TN 37686 90%3,363$84,264$352,200$211 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Cookeville, TN 38506 90%3,272$70,279$288,100$193 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Rockport, TX 78382 90%3,343$75,135$270,900$253 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Montrose, CO 81401 90%2,397$71,286$374,300$280 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Hurricane, UT 84737 90%2,300$75,545$460,400$275 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger
Oakhurst, CA 93644 90%2,105$81,196$396,300$250 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · older homes
Castle Hayne, NC 28429 89%3,631$72,337$239,200$214 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Candler, NC 28715 89%3,401$71,716$309,000$258 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Ocala, FL 34480 89%3,782$77,557$282,700$184 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Elkhorn, WI 53121 89%2,820$85,643$313,500$222 older homes
Alexandria, MN 56308 89%2,428$78,177$341,900$194 larger
Rapid City, SD 57703 89%2,255$83,739$277,100$222 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Black Hawk, SD 57718 89%2,244$84,162$300,100$195 smaller
Grand Junction, CO 81504 89%2,343$70,958$316,500$260 larger · younger residents

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.